Universal Orlando posts best fourth quarter on record and highest attendance since 2004, in large part due to Harry Potter attraction

Following the June 2010 opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Blackstone Portfolio Company Universal Orlando has seen a 20% growth in attendance for 2010, contributing to its best fourth quarter on record and highest attendance since 2004.

Universal Orlando drew 11.2 million visitors in 2010, up by almost 2 million from 2009. The "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" attraction within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the fastest ever to achieve 1 million riders in Universal Orlando's history.

The last three months of 2010 in particular saw a huge draw, with a 46% increase in attendance over the same period from 2009. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 81% to $359 million and quarterly operating profit nearly quadrupled, from $30 million to $115 million.